Say Good Morning To The Night At La Notte
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

The crescent moon is shining bright for La Notte Ristorante, the newest dining destination to bring Italian cuisine to Huntington village.

Owner Joseph Competiello, an East Northport resident of 15 years by way of Queens, is a lifelong veteran of the restaurant business. Joseph worked with his father at Villa Russo in Forest Hills, Queens for 29 years before branching out on his own. He has teamed up with Executive Chef Joseph Cacace, who brings two decades of experience in the kitchens of Jean-Georges Restaurants and his Mercer Kitchen, Tom Colicchio’s Gramercy Tavern, and Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, to name a few.

Competiello and Cacace collaborated in an effort to take Competiello’s deep experience with traditional Italian cuisine and bring new, sophisticated energy to the table as they pair old-world favorites and Nuvo Italian cuisine.

In La Notte’s cozy, warm trappings of brick, stucco and dark wood – check out the cool night’s sky painted atop the bar, fitting for a place called “The Night” in Italian – you’ll hear many chapters of the Great American Songbook – classics like Tony and Frank, mixed with a few of the more contemporary interpreters.

Every table is welcomed with fresh Italian bread paired with olive oil for dipping. We immediately made our way to the Potato & Zucchini Chips ($10), which pairs sweet zucchini crisps and classic potatoes with rich, melted crumbled gorgonzola. They are absolutely addictive – you’ll be hard-pressed not to clear the plate.

Creamy in flavor and texture alike, Parmigiano “Sformata” ($10) is one of the owner’s favorites and a unique spin on flan as a savory dish. For a delicate take on ricotta, check out their Baked Ricotta ($9), which boast bright flavors of lemon and rosemary.
Strozzapreti with Lamb Ragu ($18), another one of the owner’s favorites, is one of ours, too, thanks to just-right pasta and flavorful herbed ricotta bringing out the best in juicy, tender lamb. Whole wheat and gluten-free pasta is also available.

On main courses, La Notte has you covered, whether by surf, turf or poultry. Seared Tuna ($32), dressed in coriander seeds and paired with roasted vegetable couscous and orange, is a delicate, light and subtle. The tender Pan-Roasted Double Pork Chop ($27) is a rib-sticking delight, bursting with wood-roasted flavors of fennel and rosemary. Chicken Ripieno ($18), stuffed with spinach ricotta and fontina and dressed with brown chicken jus, is immensely satisfying and rich while staying balanced.

The dessert menu brings more delights for any palate. Enjoy classic tartufo or its lighter cousin, “White Tartufo,” which swaps the traditional chocolate exterior for white chocolate, which encases vanilla and raspberry ice cream. Apple Caramel Cake, paired with the gelato of your choice, is warm and welcoming, marrying flavors to create understated sweetness. And chocolate lovers will delight in the Midnight Chocolate Mousse, which is so rich that you could easily mistake it for ice cream.

With the opening weeks under their belt, keep an eye out for seasonal menus and new features at every turn. Upstairs will be converted to La Notte’s catering room, and for weekend nights without parties, it will be a supper club. Free valet service is available on New Street. And downstairs at the bar, they’re putting the finishing touches on La Notte’s signature martini, which will take its place on their well stocked bar list. Stay tuned for more – we hope you’re as excited as we are for what La Notte has in store for us all.